Monday, March 30, 2009

I've been thinking...one more than one occasion, about the people God has placed in my life.

Now, first thing y'all should know is that I am NOT a deep thinker. I do not cast my line with a deep hook...I skim along the top. If by chance I do have deep thoughts, it is usually because someones drags me down to where they reside. I am more of a lily pad kinda girl...not so much the coral reefs. I am OK with this, I do think it is how God wired me. I am capable of following deep and thoughtful conversations, least you think I am too simple minded, I just do not live down in the depths on my own. I say all this to let you know, if you read my "deep thoughts" of the past few weeks and think...well, I already knew that!...I will not be offended.

So to my people...

I have been no less than amazed as of late the quality of persons God has blessed me with.We can start with my husband and family...but the list grows in great number and great speed the longer I think.

My husband is, hands down, perfect for me and one of the greatest men I think has ever graced this earth. He is patient, kind and thoughtful. I could go on and on...but I will spare you. I was cleaning out the dresser yesterday and found more than 10 hand written love notes I have saved from him. Ahhh, I do love the man.

My family is outstanding. Not just my parents(which of course I love and admire and think are wonderful) but my in-laws. God has blessed me so much with such wonderful people to call family. I have seen a huge growth in the closeness of my family since Caden's passing. Not just Andy and my immediate family, but extended family as well, on both sides. I feel more a part of Andy's family and I have seen my extended family welcome and embrace Andy lately more than the previous years combined. This was a prayer of mine for awhile. God answers.Thank you, Father. Thank you for Caden.All of these people are blessings to me, but the thought that keeps haunting my mind these past weeks is the quality of friends God has given me. And the number. I am slightly overwhelmed when I think about it. I am blessed to have friends that have been in my life for more than 20 years...think about that folks...I am only 27. I think that is awesome. I have others that are fairly new on my radar screen, but I cannot imagine my life without them.

I think what has impacted me the most about these wonderful people is the love they have shown me. And for what? this is what is mind blowing...FOR WHAT? I have had friends, pray, cry, cook, clean, gift and all number of other things for me lately...and for what? This is what I cannot fully satisfy in my head. Now, I have no doormat complex, I know we are friends and I have done things for people before. But I am thinking of the way in which they do these things. The motive, and the manner behind the action. It is more than I could ever have asked for in friends. I am truly in awe when my friends not only cry with me...but for me ( when I am not crying!!!) When they mention specifics that they have been praying for, and it is not anything that I had asked or spoken...but really needed. When they hear a passing comment of mine about something we may need...and act on it.

I have come to one conclusion that is two-fold. If I am not worthy of this type of friendship (and I am not, but let us be real...who is?) It is Christ. Christ working through and loving me through my friends and fellow believers. John 13:34 says this " 34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."I know this same concept reaches to the cross. Where Jesus died in my place...for what? Because of Love. I am so undeserving. Of the cross, of His love. And, yet, through the love and actions of friends. I have seen and felt it daily, hourly.

Thank you. If you fit into a category I mentioned at the top. Thank you for loving Christ enough to love me. I am truly blessed.

who we claim to be

Hey all,If you do not know us, the first thing you should know is how much we love the Lord our God, and we are striving to live lives worthy of the title, Believer.
The second is we are praying everyday for His return. On that day we will be reunited with our precious baby girl Caden, the treasure of our hearts. Since the death of our daughter we have battled grief, hurt, tears in public, brain surgery and chemo. We have also celebrated new life in the birth of our 2 sons. So come, read, share and enjoy the life God has given us. Although it is not perfect, or even what we had planned it is what He wants for us, so we choose to rejoice.

start here!!!

The Captain and Cari

Our Joy, Caden Joelle.

"Michael said Caden's funeral felt like a wedding. I smile to type that, because in many ways, it was: a celebration of one little bride being united with the Lamb."

~Katherine Kramer~

our big Rigg

Ryder

things that make me laugh

I came back into the room from treating myself to a nice, cold diet coke when I saw the Captain playing with Rigg. He was making the stuffed animal dance in the air toward our son and saying in a sing-song voice “Here comes the zebra.” I looked at him and said in the exact same sing-song voice “It’s a giraffe.” To which the Captain, with only the briefest pauses, sing-songed back the reply… “Daddy had brain surgery.“